Everyone knows that Denver was one of the first major American cities to legalize recreational marijuana use and enjoy a made-to-order burrito from Chipotle, but did you know that the Mile High City was the first to experience a number of other things as well? Take, for instance, these 11 things that first happened in Denver:
1.) Denverites were the first to devour a juicy cheeseburger…
Flickr/stu_spivack Many have claimed to have invented the cheeseburger, but we KNOW that it was invented by Louis Ballast of the Humpty Dumpty Drive-In in Denver.
2.) …sip the Silver Bullet…
Flickr/Jeffrey Beall Sure, we all know that Coors (the largest brewing facility in the world) is based out of Golden… but did you know that it was also INVENTED there by immigrants Adolph Coors and Jacob Schueler in 1873?! (You probably did, but just humor me and act surprised.)
3.) …and begin our days with a bowl of Shredded Wheat.
Wikimedia Commons Is there anything better than a big bowl of Shredded Wheat – which was invented by Henry Perky in Denver in 1890 – to start your day? We didn’t think so!
4.) Having our day messed up by a wheel clamp.
Flickr/Eric E Castro The dreaded wheel clamp (or “Denver Boot”) was invented in 1944 by concert violinist Frank Marugg as a favor to his friends in law enforcement and politics.
5.) Decorating our home with Christmas lights.
Flickr/Joe It’s the most wonderful time of the year and early 20th century merchants along the 16th Street Mall invented the most beautiful home decor of them all! (Seeing as though I never have to put them up/take them down, I am in LOVE with this kitschy Denver invention.)
6.) Used a wad of cotton to… well…
Flickr/小草 Seeing as though this is a family site, I won’t say too much about the invention of the tampon except for the fact that it was created here in Colorado by Dr. Earle Haas (who also invented the diaphragm).
7.) Shop ’til we drop.
Flickr/brent flanders Attention all teenagers and mall walkers: The shopping center was invented by Denverite Temple Buell, who dreamed up the Cherry Creek Mall (pictured) in the early 1920s! Oh, and another fun fact: Buell also designed the Paramount Theater, 16th Street Mall, and – you guessed – the iconic Buell Theater.
8.) Xeriscape our yards.
Flickr/David Rowan During a dry spell in the early 1980s, Denver Water conceived the concept of xeriscaping, or “landscape (an area) in a style which requires little or no irrigation.” Today, this idea is huge all over the country and can still be found in yards across Colorado.
9.) Pop bottles with ease.
GrOpener Facebook God bless Mark Manger and our beloved GrOpener, which saves our palms from discomfort and quenches our thirst at record speeds.
10.) Drop our phone without it breaking.
Flickr/photo4howi The downside to your GrOpener and opening beers with ease is the fact that you are more susceptible to dropping your iPhone… enter the ingenious OtterBox, who’s headquartered out of Fort Collins.
11.) Sporting our Crocs.
Flickr/Mark Doliner Despite the fact that they feel like walking on a cloud, I feel the need to apologize for this invention… Rest in peace, dignity; rest in peace.
Are you ready to discover more of what Denver has to offer? Check out these 9 Unforgettable Tours Everyone In Denver Should Take At Least Once.
Flickr/stu_spivack
Many have claimed to have invented the cheeseburger, but we KNOW that it was invented by Louis Ballast of the Humpty Dumpty Drive-In in Denver.
Flickr/Jeffrey Beall
Sure, we all know that Coors (the largest brewing facility in the world) is based out of Golden… but did you know that it was also INVENTED there by immigrants Adolph Coors and Jacob Schueler in 1873?! (You probably did, but just humor me and act surprised.)
Wikimedia Commons
Is there anything better than a big bowl of Shredded Wheat – which was invented by Henry Perky in Denver in 1890 – to start your day? We didn’t think so!
Flickr/Eric E Castro
The dreaded wheel clamp (or “Denver Boot”) was invented in 1944 by concert violinist Frank Marugg as a favor to his friends in law enforcement and politics.
Flickr/Joe
It’s the most wonderful time of the year and early 20th century merchants along the 16th Street Mall invented the most beautiful home decor of them all! (Seeing as though I never have to put them up/take them down, I am in LOVE with this kitschy Denver invention.)
Flickr/小草
Seeing as though this is a family site, I won’t say too much about the invention of the tampon except for the fact that it was created here in Colorado by Dr. Earle Haas (who also invented the diaphragm).
Flickr/brent flanders
Attention all teenagers and mall walkers: The shopping center was invented by Denverite Temple Buell, who dreamed up the Cherry Creek Mall (pictured) in the early 1920s! Oh, and another fun fact: Buell also designed the Paramount Theater, 16th Street Mall, and – you guessed – the iconic Buell Theater.
Flickr/David Rowan
During a dry spell in the early 1980s, Denver Water conceived the concept of xeriscaping, or “landscape (an area) in a style which requires little or no irrigation.” Today, this idea is huge all over the country and can still be found in yards across Colorado.
GrOpener Facebook
God bless Mark Manger and our beloved GrOpener, which saves our palms from discomfort and quenches our thirst at record speeds.
Flickr/photo4howi
The downside to your GrOpener and opening beers with ease is the fact that you are more susceptible to dropping your iPhone… enter the ingenious OtterBox, who’s headquartered out of Fort Collins.
Flickr/Mark Doliner
Despite the fact that they feel like walking on a cloud, I feel the need to apologize for this invention… Rest in peace, dignity; rest in peace.
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